Agni Purana — Ayurveda, Shloka 10
अध्यायः २८६ — गजचिकित्सा
Elephant Medicine
मूर्छासु भोजयेन्नागं क्षौद्रन्तोयञ्च पाययेत् अग्यङ्गः शिरसः शूले नस्यञ्चैव प्रशस्यते
mūrchāsu bhojayennāgaṃ kṣaudrantoyañca pāyayet agyaṅgaḥ śirasaḥ śūle nasyañcaiva praśasyate
Bei Ohnmacht (mūrcchā) soll nāga (Blei) als Speise verabreicht und zudem Honigwasser zu trinken gegeben werden. Bei Kopfschmerz werden Ölmassage des Kopfes und die Nasentherapie (nasya) ausdrücklich empfohlen.
Lord Agni (teaching to sage Vasiṣṭha, the standard Agni Purāṇa dialogue frame)
Vidya Category: {"primary_vidya":"Ayurveda","secondary_vidya":"Samanya","practical_application":"Emergency and symptomatic care: management of mūrcchā (syncope) with honey-water and specified ingestion; headache management with head oiling and nasya.","sutra_style":true}
Encyclopedic Reference: {"reference_type":"Procedure","entry_title":"Mūrcchā (Fainting) and Śiroruja (Headache): Madhu-toya, Abhyaṅga, and Nasya","lookup_keywords":["mūrcchā","madhu-toya","śiraḥ-śūla","abhyaṅga","nasya"],"quick_summary":"For fainting, administer honey-water and the specified food-dravya; for headache, apply head oil massage and perform nasya as primary measures."}
Dosha: Tridosha
Concept: Kriyā-kramatā: immediate supportive measures (pāna) followed by localized therapies (abhyaṅga, nasya) for śiro-vikāra.
Application: Use simple, accessible interventions first (honey-water), then targeted pañcakarma-adjacent procedures for head disorders.
Khanda Section: Ayurveda (Chikitsa / Therapeutics)
Primary Rasa: shanta
Secondary Rasa: karuna
Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"A patient recovering from fainting is offered honey-water by an attendant; in a second vignette, the physician performs head oil massage and prepares a nasya dropper near the patient’s nostrils.","kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural, two-panel composition: left—patient seated supported, honey-water offered; right—śiro-abhyaṅga with flowing oil lines and nasya vessel, stylized clinic interior.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore painting, gold highlights on the nasya pot and oil bowl, physician with ornate attire, patient reclining, warm palette emphasizing healing ritual.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore style, didactic depiction of nasya posture (head slightly tilted), precise hands administering drops, fine detailing of massage strokes on scalp.","mughal_miniature_prompt":"Mughal miniature, intimate medical chamber, attendant offering honey-water, physician preparing nasya, realistic textiles and vessels, delicate facial expressions."}
Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"instructional","suggested_raga":"Shankarabharanam","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"instructional"}
Sandhi Resolution Notes: क्षौद्रन्तोयञ्च → क्षौद्रम् + तोयम् + च; नस्यञ्चैव → नस्यं + च + एव
Related Themes: Agni Purana Ayurveda khanda: nasya-vidhi; śiro-roga cikitsā; mūrcchā/prāṇa-sthāna discussions
FAQs
Ayurvedic therapeutics: managing fainting with a specific dietary/medicinal administration (nāga) and honey-water, and treating headache through head oil-massage (abhyanga) and nasal therapy (nasya).
It shows the Agni Purana functioning as a compendium beyond theology—preserving practical medical protocols (diet-drink prescriptions and pañcakarma-style procedures like nasya) alongside other sciences.
By promoting preservation of life and relief of suffering through dharmic, traditional healing methods, it aligns bodily care (śarīra-dhāraṇa) with righteous living, supporting one’s capacity to perform duties and worship.